Drug Addiction in Teens
According to Okuku, out of every five smokers, one will develop cancer. Drug abuse can also lead to mental illness, loss of jobs or dropping out of school. In most cases, addicts commit crimes under the influence of drugs, although this may not save …
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Prescription drug addiction: an equal-opportunity disease
Now the new treatment center offers sixteen beds that are filling up quickly and roughly 20 local jobs for employees. “Drug addiction is an equal opportunity disease and it affects everyone,” said Nauts. “Shaking loose of an addiction to prescription …
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Cooper: Homeless missionary pedals his beliefs
Several years ago, in the midst of the Great Recession, Peters was laid off from his Syracuse job in the automobile parts field. … "I thought most [participants] were drunks and drug addicts," he says, "but they were just looking for a hand up, not a …
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Question by : How many addicts successfully recover from drug addiction?
Those rehab places seem like a revolving door. What percentage of drug addicts who’ve been addicted to hard drugs for at least one year successfully recover from their addiction the rest of their lives?

Best answer:

Answer by applesk8er
1 in 6

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Common-sense drug addiction treatment needed
An investigation of Medicaid drug addiction programs found that it can cost taxpayers hundreds of dollars a day not to treat an addict – but merely to transport him to a clinic. It seems … Ohio has it half right in that respect – but needs to finish …
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Drug Addiction in Teens
According to Okuku, out of every five smokers, one will develop cancer. Drug abuse can also lead to mental illness, loss of jobs or dropping out of school. In most cases, addicts commit crimes under the influence of drugs, although this may not save …
Read more on AllAfrica.com

Question by ridethelightning: How do addicts not realize they are on Intervention?
With Intervention now being a globally popular show, I don’t really understand how they are still keeping these addicts under the impression that they are “filming a documentary about addiction.” There’s no way they can just not realize what’s happening.

Best answer:

Answer by Ashley D
Well if they are drug addicts, they probably don’t have the firmest grip on reality…

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Question by Danyel: What type of education would I need to become an RN at a substance abuse detox facility?
I am currently going to school for pre-health with a nursing concentration, until I have the requirements to apply for nursing. I would like to be able to work as an RN in a substance abuse facility. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advise as to how to go about doing this? I do not know if I will need to specialize in a certain area in order to do so or not? If anyone could help me out in regards to what to do education wise I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by MeMeMe
Hi,

First off, good for you for wanting to work in addiction treatment! I’m an addictions counselor and have been working in mental health (mostly suicide prevention) for 7 years and we certainly need more qualified RNs in the field. So I think you will have an easy time finding work once you’re finished with school.

As for your question… To become an RN, you need to go to nursing school. Although I’m sure you already know this. As for specializing in addiction treatment, I don’t believe there are any additional requirements, but it would be good if you have experience working with addicts or at least a greater knowledge of treating clients with addiction. So I would suggest trying to get an internship of some sort with a treatment center in your area. They may not let you do much while you’re in school, but you will be able to put it on your resume. You can learn a lot from observing how things work in treatment. The other suggestion I have would be to take some extra classes that focus on substance abuse. Drug addicts and alcoholics face a variety of special issues separate from the “normal” population you would be working with in a hospital. Most community colleges and some universities now offer programs where you can learn more about these issues. I don’t know where you live, but you may want to start looking for college programs titled “Addictions Counseling” or “Addictions Studies.” Classes you may want to take would be any type of pharmacology, a bloodborne pathogens/infectious disease class, and even alternative treatments to addiction classes. It could also help to take a few classes for addictions counselors like group therapy, individual therapy, or something similar. These will definitely help you in the future in terms of communicating with your clients.

The most important thing I would think an RN working in addiction should have to be educated about is prescription drugs of abuse. Normally when I do an intake on a client coming into treatment, they have been medically prescribed multiple addictive drugs that only contribute to and exacerbate their disease (addiction). Usually these include opiate painkillers, benzodiazepines, and other sedatives and tranquilizers. I had a client once who was on NINE different benzos which she had been on for years, all prescribed by doctors for things like insomnia, anxiety, and even hypothyroidism. This is so egregious and disgusting to me! They were killing her. She obviously had to be medically detoxed for risk of seizures and death from her meds. And needless to say, after being evaluated by our MD, she didn’t NEED any of the pills.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Just excited to see someone wanting to help in the field of addiction treatment. It is rare these days, it seems. But what a satisfying and rewarding job. Good luck to you!!!

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Virtual reality worlds could help treat drug addicts learn coping methods to …
Zach Rosenthal, an assistant professor at Duke, created the simulations with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Department of Defense and has tested the programs on about 90 people. The methodology used in this is called cue …
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Gaps in prescription drug abuse treatment exist despite Missoula effort
Thursday: One family's story of prescription drug abuse, and its tragic consequences. Friday: Pharmacists are often the first line of defense against prescription drug abuse. Today: What are the options for addiction treatment in Missoula? Where are …
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Brooke Mueller 'Missing After She Refuses Drug Addiction Treatment And …
Brooke Mueller is reportedly missing after leaving an involuntary psychiatric hold last week and refusing treatment for drug addiciton. Charlie Sheen's ex wife lost custody of her four-year-old twins Bob and Max last Thursday after the Los Angeles …
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